Three former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha members joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday in Kolkata [1].
This shift represents a strategic gain for the BJP in West Bengal, as the party absorbs former high-ranking officials from its primary regional rival. The defection of seasoned legislators can alter the local political landscape and strengthen the BJP's organizational reach within the state.
Sushmita Dev, Prakash Chik Baraik, and Sukhendu Sekhar Roy formally entered the party at the BJP's Salt Lake office [1]. West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya welcomed them [1].
The three leaders joined the party after citing their faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi [2]. The group consists of three [1] former members of the Upper House who previously served under the TMC banner.
Bhattacharya received the new members during the event in Kolkata, marking a formal transition for the legislators into the saffron party's ranks [1]. The move follows a pattern of political realignments in the region as parties prepare for future electoral cycles.
“Three former TMC Rajya Sabha members joined the BJP on Thursday in Kolkata.”
The entry of three former Rajya Sabha MPs into the BJP indicates a continuing erosion of the TMC's grip on veteran leadership in West Bengal. By recruiting established political figures, the BJP aims to build a more robust infrastructure of experienced lawmakers to challenge the TMC's dominance in the state.
